Lesley University Presents the Boston Speakers Series

Lesley University is proud to present the 2012-2013 Boston Speakers Series at Boston Symphony Hall.

The series features a line up of activists, authors and world leaders, opening with President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States, on October 3.

Following President Clinton, the series will feature best-selling author Jeannette Walls; journalist Lisa Ling; 21st-century warfare expert P.W. Singer; co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility Erskine Bowles; former president of Mexico Vicente Fox and Andes Mountain crash survivor Nando Parrado.

“We look forward to Lesley University’s engagement with these seven speakers and the Greater Boston community on a diverse range of contemporary issues,” said Lesley University President Joseph Moore. “The public response to this speaker series demonstrates a genuine interest in lifelong learning and an appreciation for the historical role of public forums within a participatory democracy. Presenting this series is another manifestation of Lesley’s mission of education and service.”

Speaking on October 3, President Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States during a time of unprecedented prosperity and change. Now, he serves as a powerful voice for progress as he shares his unique insights and observations with audiences around the world. President Clinton addresses the challenge of globalization, emphasizing our growing interdependence, and points the way toward a common future based on shared goals and values. Read coverage of President Clinton's lecture here.

Other speakers include:

Jeannette Walls, October 24 - Author Jeannette Walls is best known for her memoir, “The Glass Castle,” in which she portrays her difficult childhood with a dysfunctional, nomadic family and her drive to overcome adversity. The novel remained a New York Times Best-Seller for three years and sold more than 2.5 million copies. A graduate of Barnard College, Walls began a career in journalism more than 20 years ago and has written for New York Magazine and USA Today. Read coverage of Walls' lecture here.

Lisa Ling, November 28 - Former field correspondent for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Lisa Ling now has her own series on The Oprah Winfrey Network, “Our America with Lisa Ling.” She has also served as a contributor to “National Geographic Explorer” and ABC News’ “Nightline.” Ling will discuss her passionate and in-depth coverage of international stories, many of which are overlooked by the mainstream media. Ling spent several years as a co-host of “The View” earlier in her career. Sponsored by Whole Foods Market. Read coverage of Ling's lecture here.

January 16, 2013 - P.W. Singer has been named by CNN as a member of the “Next Generation of Newsmakers” and is one of the Smithsonian Institution’s 100 “leading innovators in the nation.” He is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Singer is considered one of the world’s leading experts on changes in 21st century warfare and has served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Defense and Federal Bureau of Investigation. His books, “Corporate Warriors,” “Children at War” and “Wired for War” have won numerous awards. Read a Professor’s Prologue by Dr. Bryan Brophy-Baermann here. Read coverage of Singer's lecture here.

February 20, 2013 - Former White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, Erskine Bowles also served as co-chair of the bi-partisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. In addition, Bowles is a former president of the University of North Carolina system and was appointed Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery for the United Nations following the devastating 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. Read a Professor’s Prologue by Dr. Michael Illuzzi here. Read coverage of Bowles' lecture here.

March 20, 2013 - Vicente Fox, who served as president of Mexico from 2000 through 2006, was the first president to be elected in that country from an opposing party since 1910. He also served as governor of his home state Guanajuato in the mid-1990s. Fox began his career as a delivery truck driver before rising to become Coca-Cola Mexico’s president at one time. Sponsored by North Hill. Read a Professor's Prologue by Dr. Sylvia Cowan here. Read coverage of Fox's lecture here.

April 24, 2013 - In 1972, Nando Parrado miraculously survived a plane crash at 18,000 feet in the Andes Mountains on his way to an international rugby tournament. Parrado and 16 other members of his team survived in the Andes for 72 days and were rescued after a heroic, 10-day marathon trek led by Parrado. His story was told in his book and the ensuing 1993 motion picture “Alive,” in which Parrado was portrayed by Ethan Hawke. Read a Professor’s Prologue by Dr. Jeffrey Perrin here. Read coverage of Parrado's lecture here.

All of the presentations will begin at 8 p.m. at Boston Symphony Hall. Tickets are sold by series subscription only; prices range from $255 to $455 per person, and are currently sold out. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the ticket office for information on subscriptions for future series. For more information, visit www.bostonspeakersseries.com.

Lesley University is a more than 8,000-student, multi-site university for women and men, and is one of the nation’s largest providers of graduate professional education opportunities to K-12 educators. Anchored by a strong liberal arts curriculum, Lesley offers undergraduate and graduate programs in education, the arts, human services and the environment at its Cambridge and Boston campuses, online, and across the country. Lesley’s four schools include the Graduate School of Education, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The Art Institute of Boston, and The College of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, an undergraduate residential college. Lesley University prepares individuals for lives and careers that make a difference, and serves the evolving needs of students and a diverse society through innovative programs and pedagogy, high quality instruction, scholarship, advocacy, and outreach.